Shock-absorber for automobiles.



J. C. LEAHAN.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED- APR. 17.1912. RENEWED MAR. 16,1915. 4 1,157,165. Patented 0011111915 1 2 SHEETSSHEYET 1.

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J. C. LEAHAN.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17.1912. RENEWED MAR. I6. 1915.

' Patented 001.1%),1916

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ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE.

' JAMES C. LEAHAN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOCK-ABSORBER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application filed April 17. 1912. S eria1 No. 691,499. Renewed March 16, 1915. Serial No. 14,751.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES C. LEAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improified Shock-Absorber for Automobiles and "other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of the present invention may be said to reside in the providing of an improved shock absorber for automobiles, of simple, durable, efiicient and comscope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1, is-a view in front elevation of an automobile equipped with two sets of shock absorbers of the invention, Fig. 2, is a rear view thereof illustrating duplicate sets of shock absorbers as being applied to the rear of the vehicle, Fig. 3, is a fragment'ary view drawn to an enlarged scale and partly sectioned illustrating details of construction of the shock absorber, Fig. 1, is a top or plan view of the adjustable tappet member shown at the left hand side of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5, is a view in section taken upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, but drawn to an enlarged scale.

In the drawings and referring more par.- ticularly to Figs. 1. and 2, the improved shock absorber of the invention is shown as comprising devices arranged in pairs, two pairs being carried by the front of the machine and two pairs carried by the rear of the machine. Thus, each ofthe compressible springs 10 of the automobile or similar vehicle 11, has arranged adjacent thereto a are arranged to act reversely, that is, as the u hicle 11.

spring 13, is being compressed in the clownward movement of the vehicle body, the spring 14, remains inoperative, the said operation being reversed and the spring 14 being adapted to arrest the sudden return of the vehicle spring 10.

Referring now more particularly, to Fig. 3,.the shock absorber of the invention generally speaking, is made up of a plunger, a guide piece, a cushion interposed therebetween and an adjustable tappet' member i'or co-acting. with the plunger. As shown, the guide piece comprises a circular plate 15, apertured as at 16, for the reception of screws, bolts or the like 17, whereby said guide piece may be rigidly secured to a bracket 18, which in turn, is rigidly secured as'at 19, to either the front or rear axle or other non-vertical movable part of the ve- The plate 15, of the guide piece is provided with a concentric portion 20, of smaller diameter than the plate 15, and forming a shoulder. This portion 20, terminates in a pair of standards 21, having an opening 23, therebetween, which parts are bridged by a central apertured cross piece 22. The parts 22, 21, 20, and 15, are preferably formed integral with one another. The plunger parts comprise a circular plate 24,

havingv arranged therewith a concentric portion 25, of smaller diameter which also 25, is a stem 26, adapted for vertical passage through the apertured cross piece 22, see Fig. 3. The stem 26, is provided with a keyway 27, and the cross-piece 22, is provided with a set screw 28, which normally engages said key-way, whereby the plunger parts may be free to move vertically with respect to the guide piece but be locked against rotary movement. 26, is provided with a cross pin 29, in order to prevent the plunger parts being withdrawn from the guide piece. Interposed between the guide piece and plunger parts are the cushions or springs 13, and 14, hereinbeforerefered to. In this connection, it may be stated that the shoulders of the parts 20, and 25, hereinbefore referred to form convenient means for acceptingthe cushions or springs. Rigidly fixed as by means of bolts 30, to the body of the vehicle are arms or brackets 31, terminating in centrally apertured circular plates 32. Passing through each circularpl'ate 32, is a threaded vertically arranged stem 33, carrying at its inner The free end of the stem end a disk-like plate 34;. The inner face of each plate 34 is preferably provided with a xfacing of rubber 35. Each plate 34, including its complemental facing may be readily achusted vertically with respect to its arm or bracket 3 the nuts 36, servingby the tappet devices 37, said cushions 13,

serving to retard the compression of the 'vehicle springs. During the compression of the vehicle springs 10, and cushions 13, ot

the shock absorbers, the cushions or springs 14, thereof, relatively speaking remain inoperative 111 that, the tappet members 38,

are caused by the vehicle body to recede from the plunger part. As the vehicle springs 10, commence to recoil, the cushions or springs ll, of the shock absorl'iers, serve to arrest the sudden return of the said vehicle .prings, because as the vehicle body commences to move upwardly, the tappet members 3S,*co-act with the plunger parts of the shock absorbers, thereby compressing the cushions ll, with the above result. By virtue of the above described arrangement and construction of parts, the springs or cushions 13, also retain their shape and are? not caused to assume or respond to lateral movement, which obviously is advantageous in the art in question. This is true, because the plunger parts worming tjl1l'()l" i the guide pieces, assume a vertical liOVeli'l ll'i in contra-distinction from a lateral moven'ieut.

What I claim is:

1. A. shock absorber for vehicles having compressible springs comprising a pair of reversely operating devices, each device consisting of a fixed guide piece, a plunger Working therethrough vertically but locked against lateral and rotary movement with respect thereto, a cushion between the guide piece and plunger, means for rigidly securing said guide piece to a non-vertically movable part of a vehicle, a tappet memi er for operating the plunger consisting oi a support fixed to the vertically movable vehicle ody, a stem passing tl'irough said support and vertically adjustable through the sanie and means for clamping s'id stem in adjusted position, whereby' ivhen the vehicle springs are compressed one al said devices Will operate to retard such compression and locked against lateral and rotary mmement with respect thereto, a cushion between the guide piece and the plate of the plunger, means for rigidly securing said guide piece to a non-vertically movable oart of a vehicle, a tappet member for operating said plunger consisting of a support fixed to the vertically movable vehicle bbdy, a vertically disposed adjustable stem terminating in a. plate for abutting against the plunger plate. means for clamping said stem in adjusted position and a pliable facing forone of said pla whereby when the vehicle springs are compressed one oi said devices will opcrate to retard such compression and rev other device will serve to prevent the sudden return of said vehicle springs.

3. Au shock absorber for vehicles having compressible springs comprising a pair of 'crsely operating devices each device consisting of a fixed guide piece, a plunger working tl-ierethrough vertically but lOClv'Q, against. lateral and rotary movement with respect the thereto, a cushion between the guide re and plunger means for rigidly securin I said gruidi-s piece to a non-vertical inevabic irt oi vehicle, a tappet member for a atuw' t e plunger consisting 01 a. sup- JA lll ltl C. l1 it A HA N. 

